# Best materials for laser engraving **URL:** \ **Category:** Laser Cutting\ **Created:** [June 17, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867 "2017-06-17T01:48:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JosephBridgford](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/josephbridgford/32/87306_2.png) [@JosephBridgford](https://community.inventables.com/u/JosephBridgford)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/1 "2017-06-17T01:48:08Z")
I have the 1000 mm x-carve, and have installed a 2.8 watt laser, made by J-tech Photonics. I absolutely love the laser addition, but i would like some input as to what material shows the best detail. In my experience, i have found that cheap wood burns easy but very unevenly. I don’t have much experience engraving plastics or acrylics, but would like to start working with them. What has your experience shown you as far as materials and laser capabilities? ---
**Author:** ![picengravertoo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/picengravertoo/32/45297_2.png) [@picengravertoo](https://community.inventables.com/u/picengravertoo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/2 "2017-06-17T02:05:30Z")
Minimal Grain Woods like: Birch Ply Basswood Poplar Other Materials: Mirrors Artist Canvas Brown or Gray Chipboard Leather White Painted Aluminum I have some of our Laser Engraving examples done on these materials shown here: > [@Laser Image Gallery - Compilation of @picengravertoo 's work](https://community.inventables.com/t/laser-image-gallery-compilation-from-where-is-the-laser-engraving-category/29990): > > These images are a compilation of @picengravertoo 's work. All of these images are in the “Where’s the laser cutting category?” You can find them there if you would like the details provided with the images. I pulled these images together to illustrate what can be done with laser imaging without having to wade through a bunch of text. [[image] ](https:/uploads/inventables/2399c1e900f93457e6f62581f0944e9564b433c02fe.jpg)[[image] ](https:/uploads/inventables/389ced923a3cd954c2ad2d987da023efc9ad5077e5f.jpg)[[image] ](https:/uploads/inventables/5578a94bd7fd43897c478c03c43d7b8aa2fad08c611.jpg)[[imag…](https:/uploads/inventables/661b52308f17306807a68d774713a4e77d2e45cc681.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![picengravertoo](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/picengravertoo/32/45297_2.png) [@picengravertoo](https://community.inventables.com/u/picengravertoo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/4 "2017-06-17T12:48:25Z")
> [@RobertCanning](#): > > vinyls [http://support.epiloglaser.com/article/8205/30188/material-safety-and-your-laser](http://support.epiloglaser.com/article/8205/30188/material-safety-and-your-laser) **“Hydrogen Chloride and Vinyl Chloride (mostly found in PVC and other man made materials) are hazardous to the life of your laser system. Engraving and cutting these materials can cause irreversible damage to your machine, so determining the components of your cutting and engraving materials is extremely important. But how do you determine what makes up the material you want to laser cut or engrave? Read on to find out.”** ---
**Author:** ![ErikJenkins](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/erikjenkins/32/84368_2.png) [@ErikJenkins](https://community.inventables.com/u/ErikJenkins)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/6 "2017-06-17T17:04:55Z")
I printed a couple these and attached some old 120mm fans to them…they work great with the laser. ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/7/9/791a47c4ce7d4ffec764195d71f85080f92f31f4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TechGuyJason](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/techguyjason/32/39131_2.png) [@TechGuyJason](https://community.inventables.com/u/TechGuyJason)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/8 "2017-06-17T23:40:15Z")
Cherry lasers very well. ---
**Author:** ![JosephBridgford](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/josephbridgford/32/87306_2.png) [@JosephBridgford](https://community.inventables.com/u/JosephBridgford)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:01am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/9 "2017-06-19T06:01:48Z")
I am going to try cherry next time. It is pretty hard to come by around here. Our only “Real” lumber supplier closed down and so my options for lumber comes from home depot. Getting good quality wood means travelling. ---
**Author:** ![RyanLenz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/ryanlenz/32/44877_2.png) [@RyanLenz](https://community.inventables.com/u/RyanLenz)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/10 "2017-11-03T15:12:19Z")
Sorry to revive a dead thread, but this is important: Lasering/burning of PVC creates chlorine gas, dioxin, and lots of other nasties. I’d worry less about the health of your machine, and more about your own! Just don’t do it, _especially_ if you aren’t using a sealed and vented machine. ---
**Author:** ![RickMorgan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@RickMorgan](https://community.inventables.com/u/RickMorgan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/12 "2023-10-17T16:15:12Z")
I am looking to do the same, do you have I for on mounting and software you are using for this? ---
**Author:** ![BettyMitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BettyMitch](https://community.inventables.com/u/BettyMitch)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/14 "2024-06-05T21:01:45Z")
> [@JosephBridgford](#): > > I have the 1000 mm x-carve, and have installed a 2.8 watt laser, made by J-tech Photonics. I absolutely love the laser addition, but i would like some input as to what material shows the best detail. In my experience, i have found that cheap wood burns easy but very unevenly. I don’t have much experience engraving plastics or acrylics, but would like to start working with them. What has your experience shown you as far as materials and laser capabilities? I’m interested in trying plastics and acrylics, but don’t have much experience with them. From what I’ve seen, acrylic tends to show great detail and provides a cleaner finish compared to wood. For a reliable laser experience, I recommend Monport laser. I’ve been using their laser for several months without any issues, and it consistently delivers excellent performance and support ---
**Author:** ![CncKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@CncKing](https://community.inventables.com/u/CncKing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/15 "2024-09-20T06:24:41Z")
I lean more towards acrylic and polyoxymethylene (POM). ---
**Author:** ![DirkMartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DirkMartin](https://community.inventables.com/u/DirkMartin)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/best-materials-for-laser-engraving/38867/16 "2024-12-21T01:37:29Z")
Get it online: > **[Woodchucks Wood - Online Lumber - Boards Cut & Delivered to You!](https://woodchuckswood.com/)** > > Thick lumber, thin boards, and a variety wood products for Woodworking, Laser Engraving, CNC, Scrollsawing, Craft, Project, Furniture Building & Repair. Domestic & Exotic species milled by the Amish including Walnut, Maple, Cherry, Cedar,...